Excavating machine with rotatable sub-frame



Jan. 4, 1966 y. s. PENOTE 3,226,856

EXGAVATING MACHINE WITH ROTATABLE SUB-FRAME Filed Oct. 18, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR VINCENT S. PENOTE BY ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 v.s. PENOTE EXCAVATING MACHINE WITH ROTATABLE SUB-FRAME Filed Oct. 18.1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J ON 7 a 3:3 ,1 9&1 ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,226,856 EXCAVATING MACHINE WITH ROTATABLE SUB-FRAME Vincent S. Penote,18555 Parkland Drive, Shaker Heights, Ohio Filed Oct. 18, 1962, Ser. No.231,397 3 Claims. (Cl. 37-97) This invention relates in general toexcavating machines, and more particularly to a mobile excavatingmachine adapted for excavating trenches, and the like, and which mayalso be effectively utilized for other excavating purposes, such as theexcavation of bank material, open pit mining, and the like.

Conventional excavating machines generally comprise a mobile frame whichsupports a prime mover or power unit on one end, and a boom orframetmounted digging unit on the other end, with the diggingunit andassociated boom being generally adjustable in a vertically plane, toprovide for varying the depth of the excavation. The digging unit andassociated boom are generally positioned or so spaced with respect tothe power unit to attempt to provide a generally balanced machine. Inthe co-pending United States patent application of Vincent 8. Penote,Serial No. 179,331, filed March 13, 1962, now Patent No. 3,157,956 thereis disclosed a mobile excavating machine having a plurality of diggingunits mounted thereon, with one of the digging units being disposed atthe forward end of a machine chassis, and another digging unit beingdisposed at the rearward end of the machine chassis, resulting in amachine achieving a material increase in digging capacity, and resultingin more equal distribution of the machines weight over the endlesstreads or other traction means supporting the machine chassis formovement on theground.

The present invention broadly provides a machine wherein the position ofthe digging unit with respect to the traction mechanism in a horizontaldirection may be selectively changed, and as illustrated, a machine ofthe same generally type aforedescribed in connection with said patentapplication, Serial No. 179,331, but with the addition of meansproviding for rotation of the structure which supports the plurality ofdigging units, about a generally vertical axis, so that such diggingunits may be rotated preferably 360 about a vertical axis, and withrespect to the traction mechanism of the machine, thereby materiallyincreasing the useability and the adaptability of the machine fordifferent excavating conditions, and for diflerent excavating problems.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novelexcavating machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mobileexcavating machine having a plurality of digging units supportedthereon, and including means for rotating said digging units about agenerally vertical axis, and with respect to the chassis of theexcavating machine.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a mobile excavating machineembodying a plurality of spaced, simultaneously operable, bucketequipped digging units and a discharging mechanism associated with eachof the digging units for discharge of the excavated material, and withsuch digging units and associated discharge mechanism being mounted on aframework which is adapted for rotation about a generally vertical axison the machine chassis, so that the digging units can be disposed at anyselected angular relationship with respect to the longitudinal verticalcenter plane of the machine chassis, resulting in an excavating machinewhich has much greater useability and adaptability for varied excavatingoperations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be "ice apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a mobile excavating machineembodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a more or less diagrammatic, top plan view of the excavatingmachine illustrated in FIG. 1, but showing the digging units andassociated discharge mechanisms therefore being rotated 90 with respectto the traction mechanism of the machine, so as to dispose the diggingunits laterally of the machine chassis;

FIG. 3 is a generally diagrammatic, plan view of the power system of themachine, for driving the machine and for operating various workingcomponents of the machine.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1thereof, there is illustrated an excavating machine embodying theinstant invention. Such an excavating or trenching machine broadlycomprises a main chassis frame 10, supported on suitable tractionmechanism, such as for instance the endless tractor treads 12. Asub-frame 14 is mounted for rotation on the main chassis frame 10 andabout a generally vertical axis, and a main power plant or internalcombustion engine 15 may be supported on the sub-frame 14. Maststructures 16, 16a may be provided on each end of the sub-frame, andsupporting a respective boom frame 18, 18a, which in turn rotatablysupports a respective endless, bucket equipped digging unit 20, 20a.

Each of the digging units may be movably supported on its boom structurein the conventional manner, and as for instance by a plurality oftransversely paired rollers 22, one pair of which may be supported by adepending frame structure 24 projecting downwardly from the underside ofthe respective boom.

Each boom frame may be pivoted as at 28 to the respective mast structureon the machine sub-frame for movement in a generally vertical plane, andwhich provides for varying the depth of excavation of the respectivedigging unit, as for instance as is shown in dotdash likes in FIG. 1.The pivoting of the respective boomb frame in said generally verticalplane, and with respect to the respective mast structure may beaccomplished by means of a double acting, fluid powered, reciprocalmotor unit or units 30, pivotally coupled as at 32 to the maststructure, and pivotally attached as at 34 to cross member 35 of therespective boom frame. Application of pressurized fluid to the motorunits 30 will cause adjustment of the position of the respective boomframe and its associated digging unit in a generally vertical plane.Such fluid powered motor units may be effectively used to crowd therespective digging unit into biting contact with the material beingexcavated, which is an advantage especially when digging in hardmaterial, such as for instance shale or coral. As best illuse trated inFIG. 2, each of the digging units are preferrably of a greater widththan the width of the traction mechanism 12.

Each digging unit may have a transversely extending discharge conveyormechanism 40, a projecting therethrough, for receiving the dug materialfrom the buckets of the digging unit and discharging such excavatedmaterial to areas disposed laterally of the respective digging unit,such as for instance into automotive trucks moving along with themachine, or the excavated material might be discharged right onto theground area along the excavation being dug.

Each conveyor mechanism may comprise an inner section 43 having a pairof drums at each end thereof and about which is looped an endlessconveyor belt, with the inner section being supported by the respectiveboom frame, and an outer section 45 of'considerably length, pivoted tothe respective boom frame for angular movement in a generally verticalplane, thereby providing for adjusting the height of the discharging endof the outer section 45 with respect to ground level. There also may beprovided a jib 47 pivoted as :at 47a to the respective mast structurefor angular movement, and adapted for supporting the respective outerdischarge conveyor section with respect to ground level.

In accordance With the instant invention, the sub-frame 14 is mountedfor rotation about a generally vertical axis, as for instance by meansof pedestal 50 (FIG. 1) secured to the sub-frame and rotatable withrespect to the traction mechanism of the machine. Depending brackets androllers 52 may be provided on the underside of the subframe coactingwith a track 54 on the main chassis frame, for supporting andstabilizing the sub-frame for rotation with respect to the tractionmechanism. Any suitable means may be utilized for driving the sub-framein its rotative movement as, for instance, by a gear 56 fixed to themain frame concentrically about the axis of rotation of the sub-frame,and coacting with a worm element 58 driven by a preferably reversible,rotary, fluid powered motor unit 59 carried by the sub-frame. As shownin FIG. 2, when the sub-frame 14 is rotated 96 with respect to thetraction mechanism 12, the digging units are disposed laterally of themachine chassis. Upon movement of the machine in the direction of thearrow, the digging units may be simultaneously driven to excavate intothe respective earth banks X and Y at two different levels,corresponding in general to the levels of excavation illustrated inFIG. 1. It will be understood that the machine illustrated possessesgood balance with the prime mover and associated power transfermechanism 60 etc. being disposed substantially centrally intermediatethe digging units 26, 26a.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is diagrammatically illustrated a powertrain system for respectively driving the traction mechanism of theexcavating machine, for power ing the reciprocal motor units which swingthe boom frames of the excavated machine in a generally vertical plane,for driving the conveyors 40, 48a which extend through each of thedigging units, and for driving the fluid powered motor unit 59 which maybe utilized for rotating the sub-frame 14 with respect to the machinetraction mechanism 12.

The internal cciinbustion engine or prime mover 15 may be connected to aconventional geared transmission 6G having conventional power take-offs6%, 60b respectively. Transmission 69 also drives the jack shafts 61 and62 rotatably mounted on hearing means, and by, for instance, the chainsprocket drives 61a and 62a. Mounted on jack shaft 61 is a conventionalmachine operator controlled clutch mechanism 64, which when in clutchingrelation, drives universal 66 and differential 68, the latter beingmounted on the boom frame 18 as best shown in FIG. 1. Differential 68 isoperably coupled with digging unit drive shaft 76 via the associatedchain and sprocket drive 70a, and in the conventional manner drives thediggging wheel 20. The other digging unit Ztla may be driven in likemanner from its associated drive shaft 70' driven by chain and sprocketdrive 70a, differential 68, universal 66, clutch mechanism 64',universal joint '74, and shaft 62 driven via the aforementioned chainand sprocket drive 62a from the transmission 66.

The power take-off 60b may provide power to a fluid pump 76, which maybe of conventional variable volume output type, which pump is adapted toprovide the necessary fluid pressure for propulsion of the crawlertracks of the vehicle. For purposes of convenient illustration only, thepump 76 is shown as being spaced from the power take-off 6%, but inactual practice it will preferably be fastened to close or abuttingproximity to the power take-off for a driven connection. The pressurizedfluid from the pump 76 goes via line 78 to a flow divider 80 of anysuitable type. The pressurized fluid such as oil would then proceed fromthe flow divider 80 via lines 82 and 84 to an associated conventionalcontrol valve 86 or 83 in the respective line 82 or 84, each of whichcontrol valves controls an associated high speed conventional,reversible rotary, fluid powered motor unit 90 and 92 which operateassociated speed reducers 94, 96 which are operably coupled to theassociated traction mechanism of the machine chassis, thus controllingthe speed and the direction of movement of the machine.

The fluid pump 1% which is also shown in FIG. 3, as being spaced fromthe power take-off 60a, and which in practice would be fastened in closeproximity to the power takeoff for direct connection thereto, ispreferably a conventional two-stage pump having a constant volumeoutput. The pressurized fluid from each stage of pump 1% goesrespectively via flow lines 100a and 10th) to control valve 162 andcontrol valve 164. Each of the conveyor sections d3, 45 of each conveyormechanism has at least one of its belt supporting drums driven bypreferably reversible fluid powered rotary motor unit 166, 106a, 13-64.Such rotary motor units for each conveyor mechanism 40 are preferablycoupled in series and are preferably furnished additional actuatingfluid from another variable volume, fluid pump 1.08 or 110, which latterpumps are preferably driven by power drives from jack shaft 62.Pressurized fluid from these auxiliary pumps 1%, 11%) joins up at therespective aforementioned valve TM or 102, with the pressurized fluidfrom pump 16%. The pressurized fluid leaving valve 104 drives conveyormotors 166 and liifia in series, and the pressurized fluid leaving valve192 drives conveyor motors 196 and 136a, in series. As aforementioned,the motors are preferably reversible, and therefore the conveyorsections may be driven in either lengthwise direction.

A further constant volume fluid pump 114 may be driven from jack shaft62, and which will supply the pressurized fluid to the aforementioneddigging boom actuating cylinders 3%, via the control valves 116 and 118respectively. Pump 12%, which may also be of the constant volume typeand which may likewise be driven from shaft 62. may supply fluid tocontrol valve 122 controlling aforementioned rotary motor unit 59.

From the foregoing description and accompanyingdrawings it will be seenthat the invention provides a novel excavating machine having anendless, bucket equipped digging unit mounted thereon, and wherein thedigging unit and associated discharge mechanism may be rotated about agenerally vertical axis, with respect to the traction mechanism of themachine, for providing for selective positioning of the digging unit ina horizontal direction with respect to the machine chassis, whichresults in an excavating machine having much greater excavatingcapability and adaptability, as compared to conventional excavatingmachines.

Th terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of thefeatures shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

1 claim:

1. In a mobile excavating machine comprising a chassis, tractionmechanism supporting said chassis for lengthwise movement along theground, means for selectively driving said traction mechanism in both alengthwise forward and lengthwise rearward direction, a sub-frameoperably mounted on said chassis for rotation about a generaliy verticalaxis, an endless digging unit including a plurality of excavatingbuckets oriented about the outer periphery of the digging unit, meansprojecting generally longitudinally outwardly from said sub-frameadjacent one end of said chassis and movably supporting said diggingunit thereon adjacent said one end of the chassi for excavating in agenerally vertical plane substantially coplanar with the longitudinalvertica] center plane of said chassis, powered means coacting betweensaid longitudinally projecting means and said sub-frame providing forselective positioning of said digging unit in generally verticaldirections and with respect to the traction mechanism, for varying thedepth of excavation of the digging unit, another means projectinggenerally longitudinally outwardly from said sub-frame adjacent theother end of said chassis and another endless digging unit including aplurality of excavating buckets oriented about the outer periphery ofsaid other digging unit, said other digging unit being movably mountedon the last mentioned longitudinally projecting means generally adjacentsaid other end of said chassis for excavating in a generally verticalplane substantially co-planar with the longitudinal vertical centerplane of said chassis, other powered means coacting between said otherlongitudinally projecting means and said sub-frame for selectivelypositioning said other digging unit in generally vertical directions andwith respect to the traction mechanism for varying the depth ofexcavation of said other digging unit, whereby said other digging unitmay be positioned to dig at a shallower depth than the first mentioneddigging unit when said chassis is moving in a forward direction, meansfor simultaneously driving said digging units in a common direction tocause coincident excavating thereby, discharge conveyor means forreceiving excavated material from each digging unit and discharging itto a side thereof, and power means for rotating said sub-frame aboutsaid generally vertical axis and with respect to said tractionmechanism, and through a suflicient range so that the first mentioneddigging unit may be disposed adjacent said other end of said chassis forexcavating operations and the second mentioned digging unit may bedisposed adjacent said one end of said chassis for excavating operationswithout turning said machine around, and whereinjsaid digging units mayalso be positioned laterally of the machine chassis for excavatingoperations in vertical planes disposed substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal vertical center plane of said chassis and at diilerentelevations with respect to one another.

2. In a mobile excavating machine comprising, a chassis, endless tractortreads supporting said chassis for lengthwise movement along the ground,power means for selectively driving said tractor treads in both alengthwise forward direction and a lengthwise rearward direction, asub-frame operably mounted on said chassis for rotation about agenerally vertical axis, an endless rotary digging unit including aplurality of excavating buckets oriented about the outer periphery ofthe digging unit, a boom frame pivotally mounted on said sub-frame forpivotal movement in a generally vertical plane and projecting generallyhorizontally outwardly from the rearward end of said chassis, said boomframe movably supporting said digging unit thereon adjacent the rearwardend of said chassis for excavating in a generally vertical planesubstantially co-planar with the longitudinal vertical center plane ofsaid chassis, reciprocal power means coacting between said boom frameand said sub-frame and providing for selective positioning of saiddigging unit in a generally vertical plane and with respect to thetraction mechanism for varying the depth of excavation of the diggingunit, another boom frame pivoted to said subframe and projectinggenerally horizontally outwardly from the forward end of said chassisand another endless rotary digging unit including a plurality ofexcavating buckets oriented about the outer periphery of said otherdigging unit, said other digging unit being movably supported on saidother boom frame adjacent the forward end of said chassis, reciprocalpower means coacting between said other boom frame and said sub-framefor selectively positioning said other digging unit in a generallyvertical plane with respect to the traction mechanism, for varying thedepth of excavation of said other digging unit, the pivotal connectionof said other boom frame to said sub-frame being disposed at a higherelevation than the pivotal connection of said first mentioned boom frameto the sub-frame whereby said other digging unit is positioned to dig ata shallower depth than the first mentioned digging unit during forwardexcavating movement of the machine, means on said sub-frame coactingwith said digging units for simultaneously driving said digging units ina common direction to cause coincident excavating thereby, dischargeconveyor means for receiving excavated material from each digging unitand discharging it to a side thereof, and power means for selectivelyrotating said sub-frame with respect to said traction mechanism aboutsaid generally vertical axis and through a range of 360, whereby thefirst mentioned digging unit may be disposed adjacent said forward endof said chassis and the second mentioned digging unit may be disposedadjacent the rearward end of said chassis for excavating operationswithout turning said machine around, and wherein said digging units mayalso be positioned laterally of the machine chassis for excavatingoperations in vertical planes disposed substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal vertical center plane of said chassis and at differentelevations with respect to one another.

3. A mobile excavating machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein saidsub-frame is operably mounted for rotation about said generally verticalaxis by depending roller means on said sub-frame and track means on saidchassis receiving in coacting relation said roller means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,313,221 8/1919Jackson 37192 X 1,455,206 5/ 1923 Howe 37-97 2,622,351 12/ 1952 Walters.2,705,626 4/ 1955 Ball 299-64 2,771,958 11/1956 Ball. 2,894,341 7/ 1959Amthor. 2,912,232 11/1959 Lewis. 2,966,752 1/1961 Wampach 371 163,032,956 5/ 1962 Mullet. 3,032,994 5/1962 Lindell. 3,043,035 7/1962Fogelberg. 3,091,874 6/1963 Wuigk 37190 3,102,349 9/1963 Thomson 37923,157,956 11/1964 Penote 3797 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,545 6/ 1950 Australia.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

MILTON KAUFMAN, BENJAMIN HERSH,

, Examiners.

1. IN A MOBILE EXCAVATING MACHINE COMPRISING A CHASSIS, TRACTIONMECHANISM SUPPORTING SAID CHASSIS FOR LENGTHWISE MOVEMENT ALONG THEGROUND, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY DRIVING SAID TRACTION MECHANISM IN BOTH ALENGTHWISE FORWARD AND LENGTHWISE REARWARD DIRECTION, A SUB-FRAMEOPERABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CHASSIS FOR ROTATION ABOUT A GENERALLY VERTICALAXIS, AN ENDLESS DIGGING UNIT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF EXCAVATINGBUCKETS ORIENTED ABOUT THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE DIGGING UNIT, MEANSPROJECTING GENERALLY LONGITUDINALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SUB-FRAMEADJACENT ONE END OF SAID CHASSIS AND MOVABLY SUPPORTING SAID DIGGINGUNIT THEREON ADJACENT SAID ONE END OF THE CHASSIS FOR EXCAVATING IN AGENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR WITH THE LONGITUDINALVERTICAL CENTER PLANE OF SIAD CHASSIS, POWERED MEANS COACTING BETWEENSAID LONGITUDINALLY PROJECTING MEANS AND SAID SUB-FRAME PROVIDING FORSELECTIVE POSITIONING OF SAID DIGGING UNIT IN GENERALLY VERTICALDIRECTIONS AND WITH RESPECT TO THE TRACTION MECHANISM, FOR VARYING THEDEPTH OF EXCAVATION OF THE DIGGING UNIT, ANOTHER MEANS PROJECTINGGENERALLY LONGITUDINALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SUB-FRAME ADJACENT THEOTHER END OF SAID CHASSIS AND ANOTHER ENDLESS DIGGING UNIT INCLUDING APLURALITY OF EXCAVATING BUCKETS ORIENTED ABOUT THE OUTER PERIPHERY OFSAID OTHER DIGGING UNIT, SAID OTHER DIGGING UNIT BEING MOVABLE MOUNTEDON THE LAST MENTIONED LONGITUDINALLY PROJECTING MEANS GENERALLY ADJACENTSAID OTHER END OF SAID CHASSIS FOR EXCAVATING IN A GENERALLY VERTICALPLANE SUBSTANTIALLY CO-PLANAR WITH THE LONGITUDINAL VERTICAL CENTERPLANE OF SAID CHASSIS, OTHER POWERED MEANS COACTING BETWEEN SAID OTHERLONGITUDINALLY PROJECTING MEANS AND SAID SUB-FRAME FOR SELECTIVELYPOSITIONING SAID OTHER DIGGING UNIT IN GENERALLY VERTICAL DIRECTIONS ANDWITH RESPECT TO THE TRACTION MECHANISM FOR VARYING THE DEPTH OFEXCAVATION OF SAID OTHER DIGGING UNIT, WHEREBY SAID OTHER DIGGING UNITMAY BE POSITIONED TO DIG AT A SHALLOWER DEPTH THAN THE FIRST MENTIONEDDIGGING UNIT WHEN SAID CHASSIS IS MOVING IN A FORWARD DIRECTION, MEANSFOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DRIVING SAID DIGGING UNITS IN A COMMON DIRECTION TOCAUSE COINCIDENT EXCAVATING THEREBY, DISCHARGE CONVEYOR MEANS FORRECEIVING EXCAVATED MATERIAL FROM EACH DIGGING UNIT AND DISCHARGING ITTO A SIDE THEREOF, AND POWER MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SUB-FRAME ABOUTSAID GENERALLY VERTICAL AXIS AND WITH THE RESPECT TO SAID TRACTIONMECHANISM, AND THROUGH A SUFFICIENT RANGE SO THAT THE FIRST MENTIONEDDIGGING UNIT MAY BE DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID OTHER END OF SAID CHASSIS FOREXCAVATING OPERATIONS AND THE SECOND MENTIONED DIGGING UNIT MAY BEDISPOSED ADJACENT SAID ONE END OF SAID CHASSIS FOR EXCAVATING OPERATIONSWITHOUT TURNING SAID MACHINE AROUND, AND WHEREIN AID DIGGING UNITS MAYALSO BE POSITIONED LATERALLY OF THE MACHINE CHASSIS FOR EXCAVATINGOPERATIONS IN VERTICAL PLANES DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TOTHE LONGITUDINAL VERTICAL CENTER PLANE OF SAID CHASSIS AND AT DIFFERENTELEVATIONS WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER.